Professor Rosemary Hunter of the University of Kent
produced a response to this paper. Her response focuses
primarily on Judges speaking directly to children
in private.
Increasing Diversity in the Legal Profession:
A Report on Government Proposals (March 2006)
The Department
for Constitutional Affairs issued a report on Increasing
Diversity in the Legal Profession. The paper sets
out the government's objectives to increase the diversity
of the legal profession. It was launched at the Legal
Services Consultative Panel's (LSCP) standing conference
on legal education on 23 November 2005. It follows on
from the advice sent by the LSCP to the Secretary of
State by the Panel (Annex A of the report) in May 2005.
The main report sets out the actions that the government
will take to ensure that the opportunities available
to those wishing to enter into, or progress with the
legal profession, are open to all regardless of background.
Dr
Andrew Francis of Keele University produced a response
to this paper. His response focuses primarily on the
position of part-time law students.
Assaults and other offences against the person
(September 2005)
The Sentencing
Advisory Panel issued a consultation paper on the
sentencing of cases involving assaults and other offences
against the person. The Panel's consultation covers
offences that come before the courts in large numbers
(such as common assault and actual bodily harm) and
those that result in significant custodial sentences
(such as attempted murder and wounding with intent to
cause grievous bodily harm) and for which consistent
sentencing guidelines are needed. The consultation also
includes the offence of cruelty to a child.
Dr
Matthew Weait of Keele University produced a response
to this consultation paper. His response focuses on
the sentencing of people convicted under section 20
of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (OAPA 1861)
for the reckless transmission of HIV during sexual intercourse.